Improvement in parlor croquet-apparatus



H. VAN HOEVENBERGH. Parlor-Croquet Apparatus. No. 191,504.

Patented Nov. 27, 1877.

Witnesses? v Inventor:

fi- @545 f Nv PETERS, PNOTQLXTHUGRAFNER, WASHINGTON. D C,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY VAN HOEVENBEEGE, 0F ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN PARLO'R CROQUET-A PPARATUS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 197,504, dated November 27, 1877; application filed March 3, 1877.

and useful Improvement in Parlor-Games, of

which the following is a specification:

Figure 1 is a planview of a game-table containing my invention; Fig. 2, a vertical longitudinal section thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail .face view, on an enlarged scale, of one of the arches used thereon, showing the manner of attachment. Fig. 4 is a top view thereof; Fig. 5, a detail side view, partly in section, of

' one of the stakes, showing how it is fastened,

this figure being also on an enlarged scale.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

This invention has for its object to provide for various kinds of parlor games, such as croquet, a table-cloth which, when put into place, will constitute a perfect game-table, inasmuch as the several arches, stakes, or similar projecting devices used in such game are intimately connected with the cloth.

My invention consists in riveting, stitching, or otherwise fastening the several stakes, arches, or equivalent devices intimately to a removable table cloth or cover, which, when placed upon an ordinary dining-room or parlor table, will at once produce a perfect gameboa-rd, leaving the table to its customary uses when taken 01f, as hereinafter described.

My invention also consists in a special improvement in the construction of the arches.

In the accompanying drawing, the letter A represents a table cloth or cover, made of cloth or other suitable flexible material, of proper size and shape, and adapted to be readily placed upon and removed from any table on which it may be desired to use it, in contradistinction to covers which are made permanent attachments of tables. To this flexible cover A are intimately attached a series of arches, B B, and stakes O G or other devices used in games more or less analogous to the game of croquet.

The stakes O, I prefer to attach in manner shown in Fig. 5that is to say, by a pin, a, which is introduced from below through the cloth into the stake, an enlarged washer, I), being interposed between the head of said pin and the cloth; orthe head of the pin may constitute the enlargement represented by the washer 1).

Every arch B has at its ends projecting ears d d, which I prefer to place under the cloth A, and which, by rivets e e that pierce their ends, orby prongs formed at such ends, are fastened to the table-cloth, as shown. The two cars d formed on each arch project 0bliquely outward in opposite directions, as in Fig; 4, so that they are thus not in the way of a ball or object which may be aimed through the arch.

I am aware that ears projecting. at right angles to the plane of the arch or wicket have been previously devised, and this I do not claim but my obliquely-projecting supports 01, being at a greater angle than ninety degrees to the plane of the wicket, will never interfcrewith the motion of the balls that enter the wicket, which advantage is not enjoyed by the wickets having supports at right angles, as stated. a 1

Instead of placing the ears d beneath the cloth, as shown, they may be placed upon its surface, or other mode of fastening the arches and stakes to the table-cloth may be substituted. Thus the stakes may have a series of projecting prongs, which are passed through the cloth and'clinched beneath or above it.

It will be seen that this table-cloth, when put upon the table, will produce a perfect game-table, with all the stakes and arches in substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

HENRY VAN HOEVENBERGH. Witnesses:

F. v. BRLESEN,

JOHN G. TUNBRDGE. 

